Verstappen flies to Monza win, as McLaren manipulate Piastri vs Norris title fight
Max Verstappen has won the Italian Grand Prix, with Lando Norris in P2 and Oscar Piastri completing the podium places
Hectic start, Verstappen, Leclerc, Piastri and Hamilton make the moves
As the lights went out, Verstappen pushed Norris wide onto the grass, and with the Brit maintaining his MCL39 on the inside into the first chicane, Verstappen cut the corner and retained the lead.
Further back, Charles Leclerc went for a move on Piastri and got P3, which the Aussie driver would negate with a daring move around the outside of the first Lesmo corner.
Leclerc would get P3 back the following lap, with Verstappen making a risky overtake attempt around the outside of Turn 1 on lap 3, completing the move and retaking the lead of the race.
Piastri then was able to mimick Verstappen's move on Norris and took back P3 from the Monegasque Ferrari driver.
Esteban Ocon received a 5-sescond time penalty for forcing Lance Stroll off the road as they both battled for position into Variante della Roggia, the second chcane at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza.
Verstappen grows lead, Alonso's AMR25 breaks down
Verstappen, despite Norris' attempts to cut his lead, was able to grow his gap to up to 6 seconds by lap 23, displaying great pace in his RB21.
Charles Leclerc was able to keep his P4 fending off George Russell's advances, with Hamilton stuck behind in P6.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli was able to jump Yuki Tsunoda for P9 at Turn 1 and Fernando Alonso, having edged as closest as possible to Bortoleto at the pit entry, was able to take the Brazilian during the pitstop.
On lap 25, Alonso reported a suspension failure which took him out of the race after he went over the kerbs into Ascari, resulting in a vibration induced suspension breakage.
Piastri was then asked if his tyres could go longer by 15 laps, to which the Aussie driver responded affirmatively. Russell then came into the pits to dispose of his medium tyres and don on hards.
Verstappen led Norris, Piastri Leclerc and Hamilton, with all top 5 drivers yet to make their pitstop.
McLaren invokes team orders and Verstappen wins
On lap 34, Leclerc risked a pit lane speed exceeding penalty with a risky pit entry approach, and switch his old mediums for new hards.
Despite his teammate leading with authority over the otherwise dominant McLarens, and his P9 start, Yuki Tsunoda's efforts were dwindling with the Japanese driver placing in P16 on the 36th lap of the race.
Norris was then asked what his thoughts were on the soft tyres. The Brit replied with a 'Yeah, I guess,' before clarifying he wanted to do the opposite of race leader, Verstappen.
On lap 38, Verstappen stopped to put on the hard tyres, with Norris and Piastri leading the race, still to serve their mandatory pitstop.
Hamilton made his stop' the following lap, exiting the pits in P9, with Antonelli taking Pierre Gasly for P10, setting on the hunt of the British driver he took over from at Mercedes.
On lap 41 Carlos Sainz went for a move on the outside of Oliver Bearman into the second chicane which went awry. When Sainz turned into the corner, the contact was unavoidable, and both drivers were spun around. Sector focused yellow flags were waved, but the race was not neutralised.
Piastri made his stop and donned on soft tyres, then it was Norris' turn to come in to switch the tyres. Having endured a slow stop, the Brit lost track position to the Aussie driver.
Then McLaren invoked team orders to swap positions and allow Norris to get back the place, only to then tell Piastri they were free to race.
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